SC reserves judgement against Modi and Singhal

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court today reserved its judgment on a petition seeking the registration of criminal cases against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and VHP Secretary General Ashok Singhal for allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches against the Muslim community during the 2004 general elections.

Counsel for Alec Padamsee submitted before the bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat, P K Balasubramanyan and D K Jain that since the Gujarat police had already given a clean chit to the respondents, indulgence of this court was being prayed for in the interest of justice as well as in the interest of maintaining communal harmony in the country.

The petitioner also pleaded that failure to prosecute the accused for disturbing communal harmony by making objectionable remarks against the minority community under section 153 A of the IPC during election campaigning would only encourage such elements and thereby, the secular fabric of the country would weaken.

Counsel for the petitioner also alleged that the two leaders of the Sangh Parivar were known for their anti-Muslim views and missed no opportunity for inciting violence and hatred against the minority community.

Counsel for the state of Gujarat, however defended the two leaders contending that there was nothing objectionable in their alleged speeches and they never intended to disturb public peace and tranquility by inciting communal feelings and the allegations were false and politically motivated.

Notably, the Narendra Modi government has of late been facing trouble because of the involvement of senior IPS officers of the state police in fake encounters.

UNI